H. Res. 447 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

February 10, 2014. 

Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine 

is in the national interest of the United States; 

Whereas the Government of Ukraine has declared integration 

with Europe a national priority and has made significant 

progress toward meeting the requirements for an Association Agreement; 

Whereas on November 21, 2013, following several months of 

intense outside pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor 

Yanukovych abruptly suspended negotiations on the Association Agreement one week before it was due to be 

signed at the European Union’s Eastern Partnership 

Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania; 

Whereas this reversal of stated government policy precipitated demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of 

Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv as well as in cities throughout 

the country; 

Whereas the demonstrators have been overwhelmingly peaceful and have sought to exercise their constitutional rights 

to freely assemble and express their opposition to President Yanukovych’s decision; 

Whereas the demonstrators have consistently expressed their 

support for democracy, human rights, greater govern-
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ment accountability, and the rule of law, as well as for 

closer relations with Europe; 

Whereas on November 30, 2013, police violently dispersed 

peaceful demonstrators in Kyiv’s Independence Square, 

resulting in many injuries and the arrest of several dozen 

individuals; 

Whereas on December 11, 2013, police raided 3 opposition 

media outlets and the headquarters of an opposition 

party; 

Whereas on December 11, 2013, despite President 

Yanukovych’s statement the previous day that he would 

engage in talks with the opposition, police attempted to 

forcibly evict peaceful protesters from central locations in 

Kyiv; 

Whereas several journalists, including from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and civic activists supporting the 

demonstrators have been brutally attacked; 

Whereas on January 16, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament 

passed, and President Yanukovych signed, legislation 

which severely limits the right of peaceful protest, constrains freedom of speech and the independent media, 

and unduly restricts civil society organizations; 

Whereas the passage of these undemocratic measures and 

President Yanukovych’s refusal to engage in substantive 

dialogue with opposition leaders precipitated several days 

of violence and resulted in several deaths and hundreds 

of injuries, as well as numerous allegations of police brutality; and 

Whereas in the face of spreading demonstrations, Ukrainian 

Government representatives and opposition leaders have 

entered into negotiations which on January 28, 2014, re-
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sulted in the resignation of the Prime Minister and his 

cabinet and the repeal of most of the anti-democratic 

laws from January 16, 2014: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) greatly values the warm and close relationship 

the United States has established with Ukraine since 

that country regained its independence in 1991; 

(2) supports the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose 

their own future free of intimidation and fear; 

(3) calls on the United States and the European 

Union to continue to work together to support a peaceful 

resolution to the crisis, and to continue to support the 

desire of millions of Ukrainian citizens for democracy, 

human rights, government accountability, and the rule of 

law, and closer relations with Europe; 

(4) urges the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian 

opposition parties, and all protesters to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid confrontation, and calls on the 

Government of Ukraine to live up to its international obligations and respect and uphold the democratic rights 

of its citizens, including the freedom of assembly and expression, as well as the freedom of the press; 

(5) condemns all acts of violence and calls on the 

Government of Ukraine to bring to justice those responsible for violence and brutality against peaceful pro-
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testers, and to release and drop any criminal charges 

against those detained for peacefully exercising their 

democratic rights; 

(6) welcomes the repeal by the Ukrainian parliament of most of the anti-democratic measures adopted 

on January 16, 2014, and urges President Yanukovych 

to continue to engage in substantive talks with opposition leaders to address the legitimate grievances of the 

opposition, and to take additional steps to de-escalate 

tensions; 

(7) urges the United States and the European 

Union to continue to make clear to Ukraine’s leaders 

that those who authorize or engage in violence against 

peaceful protesters will be held personally accountable; 

(8) supports the measures taken by the Department 

of State to revoke the visas of several Ukrainians linked 

to the violence, and encourages the Administration to 

consider additional targeted sanctions against those who 

authorize or engage in the use of force; and 
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(9) urges all parties to engage in constructive, sustained dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to 

Ukraine’s current political and economic crisis. 

Attest: 

Clerk.